Researchers Pulled Off Isle Royale as Winter Wolf-Moose Survey is Suspended for Ice Conditions

Michigan Tech University’s Isle Royale Wolf and Moose team will suspend the remainder of the winter survey. Reported last Friday by the Associated Press the Michigan Tech wolf and moose research team returned last week after NPS ordered everyone off the island. The National Park Service cited unsafe ice conditions for the team’s ski plane landings. Michigan Tech researchers attested to deteriorating conditions around the harbor expressing their disappointment in having to leave and end the study early. Hopes are that temperatures will drop back down and allow the ice to firm back up enough for the planes to land. If that does not occur the team could return in the spring, however, it would be much more difficult to conduct the survey.  Additionally, the team cannot conduct the survey flying from the mainland in the meantime. The ski planes cannot fly the distance to the island, survey areas, and return in a single trip.